Alexis de Tocqueville arrived in New York in May 1831. America was still getting started. But this young French aristocrat was the first foreigner to foresee what it would become: not just a country, but an idea—one powerful enough to shape the future of the world.Tocqueville's nine-month road trip took him to the frontier, to the South and, eventually, to the White House. It spawned his masterpiece: “Democracy in America”. Many people still consider this book the single most insightful piece of writing on America. John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, is one of them. Now, 250 years after the birth of the republic, people inside and outside America are starting to question the vitality of its democracy. How much of what so inspired Tocqueville about America remains?In this series John Prideaux sets off to find out. He retraces the route Tocqueville took and talks to Americans around the country from all walks of life—just like he did.To listen to the full series subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ (https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus)
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Tocqueville saw America’s faith in its own democracy as a vital force. But these days the majority of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction. Can a group of maximum security prisoners in Sing Sing offer a vision of how to get back on track?Guests and HostsJohn Prideaux, The Economist’s US EditorSean Pica, executive director of Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison Jean Frantz, prisoner at Sing Sing Correctional Facility Topics Alexis de Tocqueville’s views on voluntary associationsSing Sing prison education programmePrisoners’ views on the American dreamLet us know what you think. Email podcasts@economist.comTo listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ (https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus).If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs (https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts) page or watch our video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY) explaining how to link your account.
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11 Jun 2026
1. Game of chance
John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor, embarks on a roadtrip to see how America’s democracy is faring in the era of Trump. His companion is a long-dead French aristocrat called Alexis De Tocqueville, author of arguably the best book ever written about America. When Tocqueville arrived in New York in 1831, it was a small, low-slung city where pigs roamed the streets. But he was able to see past that—to a vision of the future.Arriving in Manhattan today, John finds cause for concern, even among the island’s wealthiest residents. Guests and HostsJohn Prideaux, The Economist’s US EditorBabara Tober, Philanthropist and former Editor of Brides magazineJohn Catsimatidis, CEO of Red Apple GroupTopics Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America‘Equality of conditions’ at 250The election of Zohran MamdaniDeclining faith in American democracyLet us know what you think. Email podcasts@economist.comTo listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ (https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus).If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs (https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts) page or watch our video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY) explaining how to link your account.
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11 Jun 2026
Trailer: Tocqueville Road Trip
Nearly two centuries ago, a French aristocrat called Alexis De Tocqueville went on a trip around America and wrote up his findings in a book called Democracy in America. Many people still think it’s the most insightful thing ever written about the country. John Prideaux, The Economist’s US Editor, is one of them. Tocqueville found Americans' faith in freedom and self-improvement exhilariting—he was the first foreigner to foresee how this new society would change the world. On America’s 250th birthday, John Prideaux sets out on a road trip of his own, following Tocqueville's footsteps from New York to Michigan to Washington, to find out how much of what inspired Tocqueville endures in Trump’s America.Out nowFind the show on The Economist app (https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/tocqueville-road-trip) | On Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/033sAPzye5yNrP6vNTPrvB) | On other apps (https://econ.st/4esGGXw)On Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/tocqueville-road-trip-from-the-economist/id1896918330 (https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/tocqueville-road-trip-from-the-economist/id1896918330)
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